These are the questions I answered along with a couple of questions I tried to answer. I always remind people that I am still a baby Catholic. I converted 14 years ago and have been learning as much as I can ever since, but WOW, what fun, there is so much to learn.

I promised to answer three questions on my blog which I am working on–check below. To listen on the RealAudio link on-line, click here. Also, click here for various other methods to listen.

–Since Luther was a priest, was he able to consecrate the Eucharist after leaving the Church?–Is "Resting in the Spirit" or being "slain in the Spirit" in the Bible?–What does the Church require of my wife whose tubes were tied before conversion?–I saw a cross with a circle in the middle. What kind of cross is that?–Can we drink wine or is it against the Bible? Obstain vs. moderation?–Why is Luke the only Gospel that includes the words "Do this in remembrance of Me?–My mother is an Anglican. Can I give her a Catholic funeral?–If a priest is in mortal can he still consecrate the Eucharist? Is it the Body and Blood of Christ?–Why can only the priest read the Gospels at Mass?–Is the Church the spiritual Israel?–Where does the Bible say Mary is sinless?–If bishops derive their authority from the Pope, who can they still be bishops when the Pope dies?

1) The cross with a circle around the intersection of the cross beams is a CELTIC CROSS. No one knows for sure how it came to be. It is speculated that the circle represents the sun to teach and remind the pagans that Jesus is the light of the world, linking him with the idea of the life-giving properties of the sun–Christianity redeeming pagan symbols for sacred use.

2) I will work on finding a reputable book or source for info on being "slain in the Spirit."

3) I will also work on the clause in Luke and 1 Corinthians "Do this in memory of Me." Check back soon.

Rome, Jun. 24, 2008 (www.CWNews.com) – The Italian daily Il Giornale reports that Pope Benedict XVI (bio – news) has approved an offer to the Society of St. Pius X (SSPX) that could heal the breach between the Holy See and the traditionalist group.

The Vatican’s offer requires a response from the SSPX by June 28, Il Giornale says. The offer was apparently explained by Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos (bio – news), the president of the Ecclesia Dei Commission, during a recent meeting with Bishop Bernard Fellay, the superior general of the SSPX. Rumors of Vatican efforts to regularize the status of the SSPX have persisted for months.

Il Giornale says that the accord proposed by the Vatican has several stipulations, including two important provisions that the newspaper has learned: the SSPX would be required to recognize the authority of Vatican II teachings and to affirm the validity of the Novus Ordo Mass. The late Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, the founder of the SSPX, had accepted both of those terms before his break with the Vatican in 1986.

The Vatican proposes the erection of a traditionalist prelature, Il Giornale reports. This prelature would allow the SSPX to continue its work and to train its own seminarians.

Update: Andrea Tornielli, the respected Vatican-watcher for Il Giornale, reports that he has now obtained a copy of the correspondence from Cardinal Castrillon Hoyos outlining the Vatican’s proposal. The cardinal’s letter does not specifically mention the requirements that the SSPX affirm the validity of Vatican II and the Novus Ordo Mass, he says; “these are prior general conditions” that have been understood during the dialogue between the Holy See and the traditionalist group.

Cardinal Castrillon’s letter does say that the SSPX should agree to avoid personal attacks on the Pope, and to avoid any public responses that would offend against “ecclesiastical charity.” The Vatican further asks the SSPX to avoid portraying itself as a rival magisterium, superior to the Holy See, to respect the legitimate authority of the Pope, and to adhere to the deadline– set at the end of June– for a positive response to the Vatican offer.

Steve will field questions tonight on Catholic Answers Live at 7 PM Eastern. To listen on line visit www.catholic.com. For more information and to listen afterwards to the recorded show on-line, click here.

Canon Lawyer Ed Peters is proposing a 3-hour fast before Mass, and calculated from the beginning of Mass and not the beginning of communion. Hum! See what you think. Ed Peters wrote, I just published a short article in Antiphon Magazine proposing that the Communion fast be extended to three hours (up from one) and […]

Free Stuff for Year of St. Paul First, when did Paul write Romans, and where was he in 54 AD? How long was he in Ephesus and when did he go to Spain? Get ready for the Year of St. Paul with this FREE one-page handy-dandy St. Paul Timeline. Impress your friends with how much […]

As I watched thousands of Catholics in the middle of the “Bible Belt” in Atlanta Georgia, I was brought to tears. Rich and poor, black and white, Vietnamese, Koreans, Africans, Filipinos, priests, 5 bishops, deacons without number, sisters in every type of habit imagined all processing and confessing Jesus as Lord and the Eucharist as […]

Janet and I are in Atlanta Georgia for the 2009 Eucharistic Conference. Tomorrow morning we will join over 30,000 Catholics processing with the Eucharist held high following Archbishop Wilton Gregory! After the procession I will be giving a talk in the HUGE auditorium. My talk will be "Defending the Eucharist." Would you like to join […]

I have been on EWTN's The Journey Home with Marcus Grodi five times. Once for my conversion story, one Open Line Friday, two Open Line Mondays and one for a Baptist Roundtable Discussion. If you want to listen to them, along with other TV and radio shows, click here. Scroll down to Miscellaneous Audio.

To listen to the archived show over the internet click here and go to June 18, 2008 — or, click here for the first hour and here for the second hour. At first I said “NO! I have NEVER hosted a radio show before; I’ve only been a guest.” But Nick Thomm, Al Kresta’s producer at Ave […]

the woman at the well is at home This has to be one of the most creative and interesting stories I've read/seen. Donna Ellis has had more experiences, traumas, and dead ends than any ten other people — and she finally found the Catholic Church. There is no way I can describe the story, or how […]

Want to join a great Catholic Bible Study? You can visit www.CatholicScriptureStudy.com to find a group in your area. With over 10,000 members now using this program you are sure to find a study near you. If not, you can start you own with the easy-to-start Bible Study program in your home or parish. One lady said, […]

Obama's Abortion Bombshell: Unrestricted Abortion Over Wishes of Individual States a Priority for Presidency By Peter J. Smith WASHINGTON, D.C., June 10, 2008 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Barack Obama, the presumptive pro-abortion nominee of the Democratic Party, has plans to reward the allies that helped him topple Hillary Clinton from her throne by making total unrestricted abortion […]

Two ex-Mormon parents became Protestant: one a Baptist and one a Pentecostal. Together they raised J. Noah who later converted to the Catholic Church. Click here (Word.doc). We are always looking for good conversion stories! If you want to tell yours, or share a link to your story, just let me know at sray@me.com.

James was born and raised Catholic but left to become a Brethren and then a Baptist before rediscovering the Catholic Church. This is a VERY astute and interesting story. You will be blessed and encouraged. Read it here. For hundreds of other conversion stories, click here.